1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 265
Machinery consists of 1 hoisting engine, 80-horse power ; 2 steam pumps
and 8 boilers. Ventilation averages about 20,000 cubic feet per minute
Two gangways, east and west. Mine boss, Wm. EL Thomas ;
superintendent,
John Turner.
Colliery No. 5, Hiofiland Mines, Luzerne county.-^-Landowners, Highland
Coal Company.— Operators, G. B. Markle & Co.
Slope No. 1 is in the Buck Mountain vein ;
average thickness 14 feet.
Gangways are driven east and west. They have sunk a lift lower, making
a third lift. These mines are well conducted. Ventilation good. Average
air, 22,464 cubic feet per miuute. Ventilated by exhaust steam from
steam pump.
Machinery consists of 1 hoisting engine, 80-horse power ; 1 breaker engine,
30-horse power ; 2 steam pumps, 50-horse power each ;
total horse
power, 210; 9 boilers, in good order. Mine boss, Peter Brown; mine
agent, John Turner. All these works are operated by the same company,
viz : G. B. Markle & Co.
They have three breakers working, one at Highland and two at Oakdale.
Colliery No. 6, Eckley, Luzerne Co.— Landowner, Hon. Tench Coxe.—
Operators, Sharp, Weiss & Co.
This colliery has three hoisting slopes, two pumping slopes, two inside
slopes, and two large breakers. Six hoisting engines and steam pumps are
used to drain the works, with twenty-six boilers. These works are all on
the Buck Mountain vein. Average thickness about 13 feet.
Slope No. 2, north dip, 630 feet in length, 300 feet vertical ; well ventilated
by exhaust from steam pump. Average air, 18,000 cubic feet per
minute on both sides, east and west. An inside slope in the west gangway
of this slope, with hoisting engine and two boilers.
Slope No. 3 is stopped for the present and kept for pumping.
Slope No. 4, north dip, 300 feet long, 160 feet vertical; well ventilated
on both sides by a furnace on north-west and exhaust from steam pump on
south-west side. The east gangway is driven around the point of basin,
and has gone ai'ound from east to west on the north side of the basin, in
which a slope is sunk, working the coal that underlies the south-west and
north-west gangways. Average amount of air traveling through the mines
is about 23.000 cubic feet per minute. Machinery and boilers in good order.
Superintendents, Sharp & Weiss ;
mine agent, Samuel Bateiuan.
Colliery No. 7, Buck Mountain, Luzerne and Carbon counties.— Landowners
and Operators, Buck Mountain Coal Company.
The mines are in Luzerne and breaker in Carbon .county- The coal
worked is the Buck Mountain vein. The seam altogether will make 15
feet of coal, but there is a slate from two to six feet thick dividing the
vein into two seams. This runs about six feet in the vein above bottom
slate. The coal below is called six feet, and that which is above nine feet
or top bench. This bench is an excellent coal, clean and good in quality.
The six feet is rougher, but a good strong coal.